So, yesterday, Sunday 28th of September I completed a ten year stay in London! Still here, won't be going anywhere soon, because anyone who gets bored of London gets bored of life as the old saying goes! *
What best way to celebrate my ten years here, other than with a top ten list of my favourite London bands/ artists? I have had the pleasure to watch perform countless small, young, energetic, talented artists some of which I had the immense pleasure of working with them. Some were successful, others ultimately failed, for others the time wasn't right, or the time will come at some point into the future!
Let's take a little trip down the memory lane and let me celebrate my favourite London music with a list of great musicians! This is not a chronological list; neither an alphabetical one nor it’s not at any point complete; it is just some of my favourite London based artists at various stages of my life!
No10: Muarena Helena
Well this was a great band, formed by friends and colleagues -at the time- a little weird, a little pop, a little indie. Fun and serious and melodic. I was seriously enjoying their style! Since then, they disbanded but Joel Sea kept making quirky music and now has another rather enjoyable band, which are called Giant Burger Band and I can definitely put them in No10 spot too.
Here's a link to Muarena Helena:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUPOqaDdQTw
Joel is one of my favourite musicians/ guitar players here in London. He can certainly write songs in an astonishing rate, well compared to me! Here's the bandcamp link for Giant Burger Band http://giantburger.bandcamp.com/
No9: Catherine Anne Davies
One of the first “new bands” that I've encountered in London; A chance meeting on the Silverlink overground trains from Camden to Dalston with a cellist called Tim led me to discover the band that he was playing, and then a gig a few weeks later where every band that was playing had a cellist! The dark, slow energy of Catherine A.D as she was later known as got me hooked instantly. It help me a little the fact that I could compare her to PJ Harvey, at least in my mind!
http://catherinead.com/
No8: Dalot
Dalot; what can I say for Maria P? I know her for 12 years now! Our paths in life crossed so many times in so many different places. DJ's at the same bar, songwriting experimentation in Thessaloniki, music comrades in Cloudcub and many many more adventures I can re-assuringly say that I have Dalot in the heart of my musical trip in London. An indispensable part of the sonic puzzle that my life is Dalot is a great sonic artist on her own right, with amazing soundscapes that I deeply admire and follow the past 6-7 years! Her music a soothing and/ or surreal trip down unexplored dreams!
http://dalot.bandcamp.com/
http://www.dalot.net/
No7: Diskoboy
I was certain that Diskoboy will make it. Here was a band which was quirky, with catchy pop songs, fronted by a stunning Japanese singer! A creation of my then house-mate Filtig (and bandmate; more about it later) and the bass player of my band Dudu. Catchy songs written about everyday life in England, with sharp lyrics, words that could’ve been written by Morrisey or Blur... Straight to the point! And for a little while it seemed that the world could have been theirs! Alas, the gods have different opinion on the matter! Which was a shame because they were far better than their contemporaries at the time; Libertines, Kaizer Chiefs and Bloc Party bands were dominating the “indie” guitar charts, 2006-2008. Here's something to open your ears!
http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/interviews/article/Diskoboy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g6R0M-HTAU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS--f7hinQA
No6: This Is Laura
These youthful band, fronted by two girls one on violin one on accordion, both singing had a charming, old school melodic sound, reminiscent of Beirut, only the English, female version; Passion, beauty, romance, innocence; How do such young souls find it easy to sing about love, loss, pain? Part Cocorosie, part PJ Harvey part parisian folk. Man they could have the world at their feet!
https://soundcloud.com/this-is-laura/sets/demo1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUste97hmlk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8wehFwLxAQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgWNaA35ycA
No5: RocketNumberNine
The duo of brothers Ben and Tom Page is an absolutely brilliant sound storm delight for your ears and definitely for mine! I played once in a rehearsal in 2004 with Tom as the drummer when I was looking for band members. Never had the chance to play with him again sadly as he is absolutely great. (hence very busy) By chance I met Ben few years later in a music technology shop. We became myspace friends and bonded over similar music and film tastes. I've followed them the next couple of years in their music trip around shoreditch bars and clubs. I had the pleasure to record them in my studio in 2007. They soon became bigger and bigger, played with FourTet, and now are Neneh Cherry's backing band! Great story for two incredible hard working dedicated passionate guys:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCAF_dx28YQ
http://www.rn9.co.uk/
No4: TalkInColour
I think I have an obsession for bands with cello! This electronica band has the unusual combination of harp and cello which together with a great singer, drummer and guitar player creates mesmerising sounds! Love them!
http://talk-in-colour.bandcamp.com/
No3: Cloudcub
Well I have to be biased a little bit haven't I? This is my band, my project, my “thing” after all! It shaped the first three years of my life in London! Filtig and me decided to make a live electronica band, something that will have all the good elements from the Warp records artists such as Boards of Canada and Plaid and throw elements for Sigur Ros, Bjork, and Radiohead from Kid A period in! We had plans to make a band with real instruments and electronics, all live! A melodic intelligent sign along electronica, with a singer. Something sing-along something nostalgic that will bring back the bitter-sweetness of childhood...
Well difficult to describe but here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yYwnn1X0lw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6wPVpOWPD4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO_I00ZqOnE&list=UUdG7YG3skG_Gh4of1m2Do9Q
This is the definite debut album:
http://cloudcub.bandcamp.com/album/friendly-warning
No2: ManFlu
From the ashes of Diskoboy though, something else was born; A band that I am not so sure i've heard something like them before! Incredible sound; Tight rhythm section, loud but naturally loud with stage presence. Somehow I don't think London, let alone the world was ever ready for them! They gigged tirelessly, played big and small venues in and around London they had a cult image and an obsessed, loyal fanbase in sort they did all that it was needed to be the coolest alternative thing, that everyone loves or hates and talks about! But somehow, they haven't quiet made it!
Perhaps my favourite moment of Manflu history was a gig they played in some warehouse in Tottenham Hale/ Seven Sisters area in August 2011. A massive complex of x-industrial buildings now residential for artists and hippies, young aspiring musicians, and poor underemployed immigrants, graphic designers, web designers and students;
Somehow all these people got together to throw a big party/ festival! Everywhere there was music; Food, drinks, some performance or another, DJ's...I had a friend visiting and staying with me from Greece. I thought it was the perfect thing for her.
Well inside the warehouse complex everything was perfect! Outside though, as you might have guessed it was the London riots of 2011! It was mental!
We were on the epicentre of all these mayhem! Buses were on fire, shops were on fire, police helicopters above the area, looting....Somehow we were totally oblivious of all these!
We had a great time...And only when we emerged from our little perfect microcosm and walked the relatively long distance to the bus stop we've realised that somehow we stepped out into another city; Different from the one we left 7 or 8 hours ago, different from the one inside the warehouse complex! Somehow, this experience summed up ManFlu for me; Chaotic, intense, somehow in a parallel universe from everything else!
Here's the 10 minute epic video of their song Tek:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZUNnb3oE_0
http://www.manflumusic.com/
http://manflu.bandcamp.com/releases
No1: Marmaduke Dando
Well, most of my friends know about my obsession with this artist! If something epitomise London for me, then this is it; The raucous gigs, fuelled by tons of alcohol mainly in the east end of London...My “love affair” with this man's music started when I saw him perform with his first band “Big Sur” in a bar called Spread Eagle on Kingsland Road, Shoreditch end. I was out on a date with my now wife -and then just about dating- and I think I've heard some of their recording on myspace, and I thought I should go and listen to their live performances since they only played down the road from where I lived! Well since then I was hooked! I think the song that did it for me was “Odessa!” which for me epitomised his great ability to write lyrics and his beautiful voice, which reminded me, bit of Scott Walker, raw, emotional and majestic! Since then we met again on random occasions/ pubs and we went on an adventure of recording his music together; Three albums down the line, I think now there is an end on sight, as he will finally sail from London to pastures new!
Here's some links to his great live performances and to his bandcamp page, where you can buy his music;
http://marmadukedando.bandcamp.com/
http://www.marmadukedando.com/
Odessa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zMaMgB3A8&list=PL3A2F024DC02A22D6
*"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
— Samuel Johnson
Let's take a little trip down the memory lane and let me celebrate my favourite London music with a list of great musicians! This is not a chronological list; neither an alphabetical one nor it’s not at any point complete; it is just some of my favourite London based artists at various stages of my life!
No10: Muarena Helena
Well this was a great band, formed by friends and colleagues -at the time- a little weird, a little pop, a little indie. Fun and serious and melodic. I was seriously enjoying their style! Since then, they disbanded but Joel Sea kept making quirky music and now has another rather enjoyable band, which are called Giant Burger Band and I can definitely put them in No10 spot too.
Here's a link to Muarena Helena:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUPOqaDdQTw
Joel is one of my favourite musicians/ guitar players here in London. He can certainly write songs in an astonishing rate, well compared to me! Here's the bandcamp link for Giant Burger Band http://giantburger.bandcamp.com/
No9: Catherine Anne Davies
One of the first “new bands” that I've encountered in London; A chance meeting on the Silverlink overground trains from Camden to Dalston with a cellist called Tim led me to discover the band that he was playing, and then a gig a few weeks later where every band that was playing had a cellist! The dark, slow energy of Catherine A.D as she was later known as got me hooked instantly. It help me a little the fact that I could compare her to PJ Harvey, at least in my mind!
http://catherinead.com/
No8: Dalot
Dalot; what can I say for Maria P? I know her for 12 years now! Our paths in life crossed so many times in so many different places. DJ's at the same bar, songwriting experimentation in Thessaloniki, music comrades in Cloudcub and many many more adventures I can re-assuringly say that I have Dalot in the heart of my musical trip in London. An indispensable part of the sonic puzzle that my life is Dalot is a great sonic artist on her own right, with amazing soundscapes that I deeply admire and follow the past 6-7 years! Her music a soothing and/ or surreal trip down unexplored dreams!
http://dalot.bandcamp.com/
http://www.dalot.net/
No7: Diskoboy
I was certain that Diskoboy will make it. Here was a band which was quirky, with catchy pop songs, fronted by a stunning Japanese singer! A creation of my then house-mate Filtig (and bandmate; more about it later) and the bass player of my band Dudu. Catchy songs written about everyday life in England, with sharp lyrics, words that could’ve been written by Morrisey or Blur... Straight to the point! And for a little while it seemed that the world could have been theirs! Alas, the gods have different opinion on the matter! Which was a shame because they were far better than their contemporaries at the time; Libertines, Kaizer Chiefs and Bloc Party bands were dominating the “indie” guitar charts, 2006-2008. Here's something to open your ears!
http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/interviews/article/Diskoboy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g6R0M-HTAU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS--f7hinQA
No6: This Is Laura
These youthful band, fronted by two girls one on violin one on accordion, both singing had a charming, old school melodic sound, reminiscent of Beirut, only the English, female version; Passion, beauty, romance, innocence; How do such young souls find it easy to sing about love, loss, pain? Part Cocorosie, part PJ Harvey part parisian folk. Man they could have the world at their feet!
https://soundcloud.com/this-is-laura/sets/demo1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUste97hmlk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8wehFwLxAQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgWNaA35ycA
No5: RocketNumberNine
The duo of brothers Ben and Tom Page is an absolutely brilliant sound storm delight for your ears and definitely for mine! I played once in a rehearsal in 2004 with Tom as the drummer when I was looking for band members. Never had the chance to play with him again sadly as he is absolutely great. (hence very busy) By chance I met Ben few years later in a music technology shop. We became myspace friends and bonded over similar music and film tastes. I've followed them the next couple of years in their music trip around shoreditch bars and clubs. I had the pleasure to record them in my studio in 2007. They soon became bigger and bigger, played with FourTet, and now are Neneh Cherry's backing band! Great story for two incredible hard working dedicated passionate guys:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCAF_dx28YQ
http://www.rn9.co.uk/
No4: TalkInColour
I think I have an obsession for bands with cello! This electronica band has the unusual combination of harp and cello which together with a great singer, drummer and guitar player creates mesmerising sounds! Love them!
http://talk-in-colour.bandcamp.com/
No3: Cloudcub
Well I have to be biased a little bit haven't I? This is my band, my project, my “thing” after all! It shaped the first three years of my life in London! Filtig and me decided to make a live electronica band, something that will have all the good elements from the Warp records artists such as Boards of Canada and Plaid and throw elements for Sigur Ros, Bjork, and Radiohead from Kid A period in! We had plans to make a band with real instruments and electronics, all live! A melodic intelligent sign along electronica, with a singer. Something sing-along something nostalgic that will bring back the bitter-sweetness of childhood...
Well difficult to describe but here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yYwnn1X0lw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6wPVpOWPD4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO_I00ZqOnE&list=UUdG7YG3skG_Gh4of1m2Do9Q
This is the definite debut album:
http://cloudcub.bandcamp.com/album/friendly-warning
No2: ManFlu
From the ashes of Diskoboy though, something else was born; A band that I am not so sure i've heard something like them before! Incredible sound; Tight rhythm section, loud but naturally loud with stage presence. Somehow I don't think London, let alone the world was ever ready for them! They gigged tirelessly, played big and small venues in and around London they had a cult image and an obsessed, loyal fanbase in sort they did all that it was needed to be the coolest alternative thing, that everyone loves or hates and talks about! But somehow, they haven't quiet made it!
Perhaps my favourite moment of Manflu history was a gig they played in some warehouse in Tottenham Hale/ Seven Sisters area in August 2011. A massive complex of x-industrial buildings now residential for artists and hippies, young aspiring musicians, and poor underemployed immigrants, graphic designers, web designers and students;
Somehow all these people got together to throw a big party/ festival! Everywhere there was music; Food, drinks, some performance or another, DJ's...I had a friend visiting and staying with me from Greece. I thought it was the perfect thing for her.
Well inside the warehouse complex everything was perfect! Outside though, as you might have guessed it was the London riots of 2011! It was mental!
We were on the epicentre of all these mayhem! Buses were on fire, shops were on fire, police helicopters above the area, looting....Somehow we were totally oblivious of all these!
We had a great time...And only when we emerged from our little perfect microcosm and walked the relatively long distance to the bus stop we've realised that somehow we stepped out into another city; Different from the one we left 7 or 8 hours ago, different from the one inside the warehouse complex! Somehow, this experience summed up ManFlu for me; Chaotic, intense, somehow in a parallel universe from everything else!
Here's the 10 minute epic video of their song Tek:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZUNnb3oE_0
http://www.manflumusic.com/
http://manflu.bandcamp.com/releases
No1: Marmaduke Dando
Well, most of my friends know about my obsession with this artist! If something epitomise London for me, then this is it; The raucous gigs, fuelled by tons of alcohol mainly in the east end of London...My “love affair” with this man's music started when I saw him perform with his first band “Big Sur” in a bar called Spread Eagle on Kingsland Road, Shoreditch end. I was out on a date with my now wife -and then just about dating- and I think I've heard some of their recording on myspace, and I thought I should go and listen to their live performances since they only played down the road from where I lived! Well since then I was hooked! I think the song that did it for me was “Odessa!” which for me epitomised his great ability to write lyrics and his beautiful voice, which reminded me, bit of Scott Walker, raw, emotional and majestic! Since then we met again on random occasions/ pubs and we went on an adventure of recording his music together; Three albums down the line, I think now there is an end on sight, as he will finally sail from London to pastures new!
Here's some links to his great live performances and to his bandcamp page, where you can buy his music;
http://marmadukedando.bandcamp.com/
http://www.marmadukedando.com/
Odessa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zMaMgB3A8&list=PL3A2F024DC02A22D6
*"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
— Samuel Johnson
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